Poorly Made in China

An insider reveals what can—and does—go wrong when companies shift production to China

In this entertaining behind-the-scenes account, Paul Midler tells us all that is wrong with our effort to shift manufacturing to China. Now updated and expanded, Poorly Made in China reveals industry secrets, including the dangerous practice of quality fade—the deliberate and secret habit of Chinese manufacturers to widen profit margins through the reduction of quality inputs. U.S. importers don’t stand a chance, Midler explains, against savvy Chinese suppliers who feel they have little to lose by placing consumer safety at risk for the sake of greater profit. This is a lively and impassioned personal account, a collection of true stories, told by an American who has worked in the country for close to two decades. Poorly Made in China touches on a number of issues that affect us all.

PAUL MIDLER has over twenty years of experience related to Asia, and in his manufacturing career, he has worked directly with hundreds of Chinese suppliers in a broad range of industries. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a master's in international studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Lauder Institute. Poorly Made in China is his first book.

" Poorly Made in China is not merely about faltering product quality out of China. One of its broader themes is of people who promise one thing and then deliver another. This is a book about Chinese obfuscation and subterfuge. It is about gaming, strategy, and tactics." -- From the Foreword by ARTHUR WALDRON, Lauder Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania "Paul Midler's is the ultimate insider's look at China and its dubious manufacturing, by a man who knows the language and, more importantly, knows the subtext of every deal, every gesture, every nuance. I have great admiration for the breadth and depth of this account of being an American middleman in China today, and for the way it humanizes the whole awful business." -- PAUL THEROUX , author of Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China "This is the story of the world's crappy stuff and the surreally entertaining culture clash that lies behind it. It's funny and illuminating, and I want you to read it!" -- MARY ROACH , author of Stiff and Packing for Mars " Poorly Made in China is an insightful, often hilarious account of how Chinese manufacturers transformed their country into the world's export powerhouse by hook and by crook. Midler suggests that understanding Chinese business strategies and tactics could benefit not only U.S. business, but also our political leaders. For all of us, his book is a perfect guide." -- ELIZABETH ECONOMY , Director of Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations "Few books on China and its economy are as enlightening as this. This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to understand how China's export industry really works and indeed how China works." -- JASPER BECKER , author of Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine "Every Wal-Mart needs a warning label, and Midler, nailing the deceit and dishonesty of Chinese manufacturers, provides it. You will never see another 'Made in China' label without thinking of this masterpiece." -- GORDON CHANG , author of The Coming Collapse of China

A true story about manufacturing in China now in a new, updated edition "Paul Midler's is the ultimate insider's look at China and its dubious manufacturing, by a man who knows the language and, more importantly, knows the subtext of every deal, every gesture, every nuance. I have great admiration for the breadth and depth of this account of being an American middleman in China today, and for the way it humanizes the whole awful business." PAUL THEROUX, author of Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China "This is the story of the world's crappy stuff and the surreally entertaining culture clash that lies behind it. It's funny and illuminating, and I want you to read it!" MARY ROACH, author of Stiff and Packing for Mars " Poorly Made in China is an insightful, often hilarious account of how Chinese manufacturers transformed their country into the world's export powerhouse by hook and by crook. Midler suggests that understanding Chinese business strategies and tactics could benefit not only U.S. business, but also our political leaders. For all of us, his book is a perfect guide." ELIZABETH ECONOMY, Director of Asia Studies, Council on Foreign Relations "Few books on China and its economy are as enlightening as this. This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to understand how China's export industry really works and indeed how China works." JASPER BECKER, author of Hungry Ghosts: Mao's Secret Famine "Every Wal-Mart needs a warning label, and Midler, nailing the deceit and dishonesty of Chinese manufacturers, provides it. You will never see another 'Made in China' label without thinking of this masterpiece." GORDON CHANG, author of The Coming Collapse of China "Poorly Made in China is not merely about faltering product quality out of China. One of its broader themes is of people who promise one thing and then deliver another. This is a book about Chinese obfuscation and subterfuge. It is about gaming, strategy, and tactics." From the Foreword by Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations, University of Pennsylvania

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